Cabinet deadlock 'surmountable'

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Posted to the web: 27/09/2008 11:52:42
ZIMBABWE'S Prime Minister-designtate Morgan Tsvangirai said on Saturday a deadlock in power-sharing talks with President Robert Mugabe was surmountable and that he hoped to meet Mugabe to end the stalemate in the next few days.

"I'm sure there are no problems in the outline of the agreement that are not surmountable," Tsvangirai told a news conference in Harare.

"If there are political problems, that's why we have a leadership forum to resolve those issues."

Tsvangirai called for the urgent formation of a power-sharing government to end an economic crisis that has caused food and fuel shortages as well as hyperinflation and widespread poverty and unemployment.

He said: "We need to respond to this crisis with utmost urgency. It is therefore imperative that a government be formed in the next few days and begins to implement plans to insure that our people have food and do not die of starvation."

President Robert Mugabe returns from the United Nations this weekend and is expected to immediately go into talks with Tsvangirai and his deputy in the envisaged new inclusive government, Arthur Mutambara.

Mugabe told reporters the three leaders had been able to allocate among their parties all but four Cabinet portfolios - HOME AFFAIRS, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT and FINANCE.

Zanu PF can appoint 15 ministers and 8 deputies; Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) faction 13 ministers and 6 deputies while Mutambara's MDC faction has an allocation of three ministers and 1 deputy.

"My party, Zanu PF, will abide by the spirit and letter of the agreement to which we have appended our signature. As government, we are prepared to cooperate with all countries which also respect Zimbabwe’s sovereignty," Mugabe told the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday. - Reuters/Staff Reporter
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